S: I’ll pick you up at eleven.
R: See you then.
I pulled up a number and dialed, planning the next part of the afternoon. I was going to take her to her favorite pizza place to eat. I just wanted to see her for longer than a chatty lunch.
I dressed in jeans and a thick blue thermal before I headed over to her dorm. When I approached the entrance, I watched as Rosie stepped outside in her skinny black jeans and a vibrant purple sweater. She tugged her white coat around her body as the wind picked up her hair, tangling it wound her face. I paused as I stared at her. Rosie was so fucking beautiful, and she took my breath away for a moment.
I wondered if she was worth losing my family over. They were supporting me for now and good people, mostly. I would be on my own at some point. Was I willing to do that alone? No other girl got to me the way that Rosie did.
She glanced up and met my eyes, making ice flow through my veins. It was followed by an intense warmth and I grinned as I stepped forward. I jogged up the steps to her, watching as something crossed her flawless face. Was it pain?
“I was thinking pizza and salad for lunch. Maybe some wine to celebrate the fact that we’re almost done?” I asked as she nodded.
“That sounds good.” We walked towards the shared parking lot and I opened the car door for her, watching as she slid inside. Rosie smelled like her traditional citrus scent today and I inhaled it lightly. It was a constant reminder of her every time I smelled freshly cut citrus fruit. I closed her door and walked around to my side, taking in the half-empty parking lot. Students that flew home left earlier to get every moment in back home that they could. Since I could drive and didn’t need that much time, I left at the beginning of the week. Rose did as well.
The car was filled with her scent as I started the engine.
“When are you leaving?” I asked her as she licked her plum lips.
“Monday afternoon. I was going to wait but everyone in the family is coming this year. Mom insisted that I leave earlier.” There was a wistful tone to her voice, and I glanced at her at the stop light. “My great gran isn’t doing so well. This will be her last trip out of the home she’s in.”
“How the hell is she still alive? She’s close to one hundred years old, isn’t she?” I asked, picturing the woman.
“A week shy. She’s getting weaker, so Grandma is bringing her for a while to see everyone. I guess I was lucky to know her at all.” Rosie leaned back and stared at her long fingers.
“That’s rare. You are lucky,” I agreed, thinking about my only living grandparent on my mom’s side. She was getting older as well. I never knew any of the great grandparents though I had about a million cousins. I drove through the green light to the restaurant, parking in the lot as I looked around. “I love coming here when the town is empty.”
“The college keeps this place going,” Rosie joked as I opened my door. It wasn’t entirely true, but the students made up a large part of the revenue here. I got out and opened her door, guiding her to the restaurant with my hand on the small of her back. Rosie tensed, and I stared at her in confusion. Every other time I touched her, she practically jumped into my bed. What the hell was wrong with her?
The owner greeted us as we walked inside, coming over to shake my hand and give Rosie a hug. He took us to a table by the fireplace and we got settled, ordering two glasses of the house wine. I drank beer and hard liquor around my friends, but here I liked to just relax. The wine here was excellent and inexpensive considering how good it was. The waitress brought them over, and we ordered our usual before she walked away to give the order to the kitchen. I looked at Rosie, taking in her smooth, pale skin that flushed as she met my eyes. I wanted to ask her where she’d been, but I chose to wait for later in the day. I knew Rosie well and being attacked was not a way to win her over. I suspected that it had a lot to do with her family. I’d seen Violet do it to her as well and the way that Rosie bristled was obvious every single time. I kept the conversation light and about school since I knew the looming visits were on both of our minds. Rosie expressed excitement over graduation and what was next for her, her eyes bright on me as she spoke. I was still looking at a few years if I went with my original plan.